Reformed/Presbyterian

Early Reformed Confessions

Taught by Dr. Daniel Hyde
Runs 9/26 – 12/10/22
$225.00 – $399.00

 

In the periodization of the Protestant Reformation, the era of “early orthodoxy” was one of developing consensus and confessionalization of what it meant to be catholic yet protestant. In this course, we will study a selection of those early attempts at confessionalization both ecclesiastical confessions from “churches under the cross” such as the French (1559)/Belgic (1561) and magisterial confessions such as the Second Helvetic (1566) and Thirty-Nine Articles (1571). We will also look at more intra-mural and regional confessions such as the Consensus Tigurinus (1549), which sought to unite different regions on the issue of the Eucharist.

Deadline to register: Wednesday, September 14th

 

 

ENROLLMENT OPTIONS

Auditing ($225):

participate in readings and live class sessions, but no graded assignments and no course credit

Full course (Full-Time Discount) ($275):

for-credit courses (at least four per term) toward our Certificate or M.Litt in Classical Protestantism

Full course ($399):

individual classes on a for-credit basis; you can later apply them toward a Certificate or Degree

 

ENROLL NOW

Enrollment for this course has closed.

Description

This Reformed/Presbyterian Studies course will be taught by Dr. Daniel Hyde, and will run from September 26th through December 10th. The syllabus is available here.

In the periodization of the Protestant Reformation, there is a transition from Reformation to post-Reformation after the deaths of the important second-generation theologians such as Calvin, Hyperius, Musculus, and Vermigli (ca. 1565). This post-Reformation era became known as the era of Protestant Orthodoxy. Far from being the caricature of frigid and lifeless theologizing, the sub-era of “early orthodoxy” (1565–1640) was one of dynamic developing, consensus building, and confessionalization as to what it meant to be catholic yet protestant. 

In this course, we’ll study a selection of those early Reformation and post-Reformation examples of confessing the faith. We’ll explore ecclesiastical confessions from “churches under the cross” such as the French (1559) and Belgic (1561). We’ll mine magisterial confessions such as the Second Helvetic (1566) and Thirty-Nine Articles (1571). We’ll also look at more intra-mural and regional confessions such as the Consensus Tigurinus (1549), which sought to unite different geographic regions with different expressions of theology on the issue of the Eucharist. 

To make such a study, we’ll explore important issues of contextual history as well as the structure, themes, and contents of these and many more confessions. In the end, our study of the past will give us valuable insights for our theology, liturgy, and piety.

 

Rev. Daniel R. Hyde (Ph.D., Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam) serves as Pastor of Oceanside United Reformed Church (Carlsbad/Oceanside, California). He is the author of over 20 popular books on Reformed theology, biblical exposition, and Christian piety as well as academic work on John Owen and liturgical theology. He is also Adjunct Instructor of Ministerial Studies at Mid-America Reformed Seminary (Dyer, Indiana) and Adjunct Instructor of Systematic Theology and Missions at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary (Grand Rapids, Michigan). He is married and has four children.

 

 

Details

Online only, runs 10 weeks, meeting 2 hr./wk. via Zoom. Students will also have the option to participate in class discussion on the Davenant Common Room Discord server. Register to reserve your spot and schedule will be set after a poll of participating students; if the class time does not fit your schedule, you will be eligible for a full refund.

 

This is a graduate-level course. Although a BA is not a necessary pre-requisite for this course, students should come prepared to do graduate-level work.